Hour glass



Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES LEVI P. DENNY, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

HOUR GLASS.

Application led August 19, 1926. Serial No. 130,173.

My invention relates to improvements in hour glasses, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements, hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an hour glass which is constructed so as to be readily secured to a telephone.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of thf` type described which is extremely simple in construction und which provides novel means for accurately timing a telephone conversation.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure l'is a sectional view throufrh the device showing it operatively applied to a telephone,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of the device, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the device shown in Figure 3.

In carrying out my invention, I malte use et a telephone indicated generally at 1 to which I secure a bracket 2. The bracket 2 has two semi-circular arms 3 and 4 which are adapted to be clamped around the head piece 5 of the telephone and secured to each other by means of a bolt 6.

The bracket 2 has two uprights 7 and 8, each of which carries a trunnion. The trunnions 9 and 10 are receivable in openings 11 and 12 in a casing 13. Figure 2 clearly shows how the casing 13 is cylindrical in shape and has cut-away portions 14 and 15 for permit-- ting the hour glass 16 to be viewed.

The hour glass 16 is secured in place by end plates 17 and 1S, these plates in turn being .secured in place in the casing 13. Any predetermined quantity of sand may be disposed in the hour glass 16 for determining different periods of time. From the foregoing descrip tion of the various parts of the device, the o )eration thereof may be readily understood. T e device is constructed so las to be especially adapted for long distance telephoning. The time period of three minutes is usually allotted to a telephone conversation between different points before an additional charge is made. A sucient quantity of sand or other suitable material is placed in the glass 16 to have this quantity pass from the upper compartment to the lower compartment iu three minutes.

The upright 8 is provided with a projection 19, which cooperates with depressions 20 for yieldingly holding the casing 13 in vertical position. When the sand 21 is entirely received in the lower compartment, and it is desired to again operate the device, it is merely necessary to manually swing the casing 13 about the trunnions 9 and 10 as a pivot until the projection 19 is received in the next depression 20. The lower compartment now ecomes the upper compartment andthe sand will flow into the lower compartment, formerly the upper compartment, thus marking off another period of time of three minutes duration. It is obvious that the quantity of sand may be changed so as to vary the time and period without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In Figures 3 and 4, I show a modified form of the device in which a liquid is made use of for actuating the time indicating mechanism. A casine 50 is secured to the telephone 5 by means afp clamps 51. A plunger 52 is mounted in the casing 50 and has openings 53 therein. These openings are large enough to permit the plunger to, be moved rapidly downwardly againstthe tension of a spring 54, when operating the device. Flap valves 55, havin()F small openings 56 therein, permit the liquid 57 to pass slowly therethrough as the spring 54 forces the plunger 52 upwardly. The plunger 52 has a guide rod 57, and this rod is graduated as shown in Fi ure 4. In Figure 4, I have shown the gra uation as being divided into minutes as at 58. In operation, the knob 59 is manually moved downwardly, causing thel liquid to pass above the plunger 52. The spring 54 now returns the plunger back to normal position, and in doing so, moves the guide rod 57 upwardly, the guide rod in turn indicating the elapsed time of the telephone conversation.

Figure 3 clearly shows wherethe guide rod 57 is hollow and is internally threaded for receiving a needle valve 60. This needle valve is an auxiliary control for accurately timing the movement ofthe plunger 52. The* needle valve 60 controls the flow of the liquid through a bore 61 and openings 62. If it is found necessary to permit the guide rod 57 to move more rapidly, it is merely required to turn the knob 59 to adjust the amount of flow of the liquid through the openings 62 and the bore 6l.

I claim:

1. Adeviee ofthe type described, comprising a easing, means for removably securing said casing to n telephone, a spring presed plunger slidably disposed in Suid casing, n medium carried by Suid Casing, menus cnrried by said plunger for permitting n more rapid movement of said plunger in one direction than in the other, und n guide rod for said plunger, sind guide rod being graduated for indicating time.

2. A timing device comprising a easing, a plunger disposed in said easing, means normnllv urging said plunger in one direction within Suid easing, u medium Carried by sind easing, means carried by Suid plunger permitting n more rnpid movement oi the sume in one direction tlinn in the other, and n guide rod l'or :Suid plunger. Suid guide rod being graduated for indicating time.

3. A timing device comprising :i ensing, n plunger slidnbly disposed in Suid easing. menns normnlly urging Suid plunger in one direetioii, Suid plunger being per l'ornted, und n guide rod ior said plunger, snid guide rod being grzidnnted ior indienling time.

In testimony whereof l nlix my signnture.

LEVI P. DENNY. 

